Description of the attraction
The Palais du Ruhr, also called the Hotel Baroncelli-Javon or the Baroncelli Museum, is located in Avignon and was built in the 15th century. In 1469, the Italian Ghibelline Pierre Baroncelli, originally from Florence, acquired a tavern and several neighboring houses and wanted to rebuild them into his residence. However, he built the Hotel Barocelli-Javon.
In the 19th century, Frederic Mistral, who loved to come here, renamed it Palais du Ruhr, which meant "Oak Palace". Owned by the Marquis Folco de Baroncelli-Javon, the palace became a favorite place for representatives of the Filibridge movement (the movement for the revival of Provencal literature and language). In 1908 the palace was sold. Over time, it collapsed significantly, but was rebuilt in 1918 by Jeanne de Flandersy, who decided to turn the palace into a museum of Mediterranean culture. The city of Avignon inherited the palace building in 1944. Today the collections of this museum are available to the general public.
In the courtyard of the Palais du Ruhr, there are several unique examples of antique bells assembled by Jeanne de Flanders on the walls. Bells belong to different eras, they themselves have different sizes and different origins.
Here, in the Museum of Provencal and Italian Art, you can see illustrations for the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, engravings by Giovanni Battista Piranese, letters by Theodor Obanel, stagecoach by Frederic Mistral and other exhibits.
